Technical Workshops for Parks Levy Proposers

Here is a great opportunity to get involved in improving your Seattle parks system. Dedicated community organizations and individuals mounted a grassroots effort to pass the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy, and now Parks is looking for your ideas. This Levy allocates a total of $15 million to the Opportunity Fund which provides for community initiated park projects.

You have the opportunity to propose a park development project and/or propose a piece of property for Parks to acquire. Through a citywide nomination process Parks will award up to $7 million for projects in this first funding cycle of the Opportunity Fund. The Levy’s Citizens Oversight Committee has developed criteria for evaluating, and recommending Opportunity Fund projects to the City Council.

The first of two rounds is open for you to submit your Project Proposal Letter. Parks is hosting four technical workshops to help you develop your Proposal Letter and to answer questions about the Opportunity Fund criteria. Proposal Letters must be submitted by February 1, 2010. The next step is to develop your Application, which is due on April 2, 2010. Sorry, no Applications will be accepted without an initial Proposal Letter.  Visit us at seattle.gov/parks.  For project information please contact Kellee Jones at 206-684-7052, kellee.jones@seattle.gov or Susanne Friedman at 206-684-0902, susanne.friedman@seattle.gov.  For more information on important dates, Project criteria, Project Proposal Letter or Applications, go to http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/opportunity.htm

Technical workshop dates are:

• Tuesday, January 5, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N
• Thursday, January 7, 6:30 – 8 p.m., High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave. SW
• Tuesday, January 12, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Park Board Room, 100 Dexter Ave. N
• Thursday, January 14, 6:30 – 8 p.m., New Holly Learning Center, 7058 32nd Ave. S

You can download copies of the Proposal Letter from the website or pick them up at any community center, Neighborhood Service Center, or Seattle Public Library Branch.